Rhal Part 5 by Erin Tate

Chapter One
     
    Rhal hated her, and he had every right to the anger that coated his features. Anger directed at her and her alone. She’d revealed his private pain, the atrocities he’d experienced and inflicted, the emotional pain and physical destruction he’d endured.
    If it meant she saved him, she’d do it again. And again. And again.
    She had betrayed him, his trust and his heart. He would donate blood to finish her transition, but she didn’t imagine he’d remain at her side. What was love without trust? And she loved him. More than her next breath and heartbeat.
    The king called for silence, for guards, for the room to be emptied. And when a high guard reached for her, her mate came alive. He stepped forward, Niax and Thame immediately restraining him, but he fought against their hold.
    “Touch her and die !” He may hate her, but he was still protective and possessive. That was knowledge she held close.
    “Do you see how dangerous he is? He’s an animal,” Otta hissed, her words hardly heard above the cries of the crowd as they were shoved from the room.
    Everyone was removed, but after Rhal’s outburst, the guards retreated. Smart.
    The doors thumped closed, leaving their small group alone save the players in the game and a handful of high guards. They positioned themselves along the wall and beside the only entry to the room.
    “Tave,” the king sneered, earning a glare from the queen. “Tell us what imaginings you have and why you think you can interrupt these proceedings in such a way.”
    Tave held his hand out for Cara, and she swallowed hard. She had to speak before the Ujal monarchs, stand before Rhal’s hideous parents, and reveal the things her mate had told her in the darkness while his voice grew hoarse with pain.
    And she would lose him. She didn’t doubt it. He was such a proud warrior, but she’d rather lose him and see him live than watch him die because of an asshole guard and some bitch’s machinations.
    “Why do you have this person here?” She ignored the king’s derision.
    Tave held her hand gently and drew her to his side, placing his body between her and Rhal. She would have preferred to touch him, to take comfort in the feel of his scales beneath her palm, but that wasn’t happening. Not yet anyway.
    “My name is Cara Marte, mate to Lord Rhal fa Adar-Marte.” She ignored Otta’s snort. “I am here to bear witness to the atrocities inflicted upon my mate and demand justice for his pain.”
    This time it was Rhal’s sire who snorted.
    They could all laugh at her as long as she got to watch Rhal walk out.
    “Speak so we may move on to the task at hand.” The king gestured at her, his tone bored.
    Cara straightened her spine and pressed her shoulders back. She couldn’t show weakness. These were people who held the power over life and death, but some—not all—were drunk with privilege.
    “I charge his majesty, King Davir of Ujal, with the crimes of abuse of power, abuse of a child, and pollution of the seas.”
    It was the last—apparently—that was the worst.
    Cara expected the male to object to the charges. She expected shouts and yells; maybe even a set of cuffs slapped on her wrists. She didn’t expect the king to charge her, for his glaring red scales to emerge as he sprinted across the tile. A black blur suddenly stood before her, wide shoulders blocking her view, but the voice was one she knew well.
    “I will kill you where you stand, Davir . Where. You. Stand.” She thought she’d heard Rhal angry before. She realized she’d been so very wrong.
    Silence reigned and then the king released a laugh, one that was probably designed to hide his fear of Rhal, but he failed. Spectacularly.
    “Fine, fine. Protect the female. She will be dealt with later. Falsely accusing the monarchy has its own punishments.” The slow thump of the king’s stride signaled his retreat.
    Rhal’s broad back consumed her vision, and she couldn’t resist placing her hand